A woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years, who had spent her whole livelihood on doctors and was unable to be cured by anyone, came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. Immediately her bleeding stopped. Jesus then asked, “Who touched me?” While all were denying it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are pushing and pressing in upon you.” But Jesus said, “Someone has touched me; for I know that power has gone out from me.” When the woman realized that she had not escaped notice, she came forward trembling. Falling down before him, she explained in the presence of all the people why she had touched him and how she had been healed immediately. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.”  

“You thought you’d found a friend to take you out of this place, someone you could lend a hand in return for grace. It’s a beautiful day, sky falls, you feel like. It’s a beautiful day, don’t let it get away. You’re on the road, but you’ve got no destination; you’re in the mud, in the maze of her imagination. It’s a beautiful day. Touch me, take me to that other place; teach me, I know I’m not a hopeless case.” 

She was touched by Jesus’ power. She had suffered throughout her life, and no doubt, was at the moment of desperation. Nothing had gone right in her life; there seemed to be no future. And so she touched Jesus—just part of his cloak—hoping that his power would help.
 
The rock songs of our world are often sung with the idea of asking for help, with the hope of one person reaching out to another for help, for love. The rock group U2 in their song “Beautiful Day,” speaking the thoughts of the man, sings to someone who does not seem to be part of the relationship any more: “Touch me, take me to that other place; teach me.” He is asking the other to give him the power of the beautiful day that he believes in.
 
We live in a beautiful world. However, sometimes it does not feel so beautiful. Like the woman in Luke’s Gospel, we sometimes wonder about our future. Are things going to work out well? Will I find the love that can guide me? Is there a power that I can touch so that I will be able to live well? We sing with U2, “Take me to that place.”
 
The fact is that we have someone that we can touch—the same person that the woman of Luke’s Gospel reached out to—Jesus, who will help us. We also have family and friends. It is true that we don’t know what the future will be, and we wonder, even worry whether it will be good or not, but we can be positive. We have the power of God on our side. It is indeed a beautiful day.                        

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, it is a beautiful day every day of our lives because we know that ultimately we can depend on your power. Give us the grace to overcome the negatives that happen in our lives, so that we can truly live with the confidence of a true believer. Be with us, we pray. 

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©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America